Minister Memişoğlu Defended Age Verification Regulation in Tobacco Sales
Minister of Health Memişoğlu emphasized that they will not abandon the age verification practice in the sale of tobacco products, which has sparked debates on privacy.
Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu stated that they are determined regarding the new regulation introducing age verification for the sale of tobacco and tobacco products, and expressed that the practice has nothing to do with privacy.
Parliamentary Visit and Statements
Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu answered journalists' questions after his contacts at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) and touched upon the tobacco products regulation.
Emphasis on Health and Disease
Stating that their primary goal as the ministry is to support healthy living, Memişoğlu noted that tobacco products lead to serious diseases such as heart attacks and cancer.
Expressing that a large portion of the population loses their lives to cancer and similar diseases, Memişoğlu voiced their desire for citizens to quit these habits.
Protection of Youth and Rates
Emphasizing that cigarette use must be kept away from children and youth in particular, the Minister shared that the smoking rate in Turkey stands at 33 percent.
Age Verification Methods
Although the sale of tobacco to individuals under 18 is currently prohibited, it was reported that an age verification system will be introduced to enforce this rule more effectively.
Stating that the application could be carried out through methods similar to the HES code or QR code used during the Covid period, officials defended that the system has nothing to do with individuals' privacy.
Economic Dimension and Debates
Economic losses were also pointed out by noting that Turkey spends 15 billion dollars annually on cigarette packs, and a total of 25 to 30 billion dollars.
Chief Advisor to the President Oktay Saral had previously objected to the efforts requiring age verification and ID numbers due to privacy concerns.